Minnesota Seasons - Inky Agaricus

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

not listed

Minnesota

not listed


	Description
	Inky Agaricus is a widespread but not common mushroom easily recognized by it’s flat cap with blackish-brown fibers and scales. It is found either singly or in groups or clusters. It obtains its nutrients from decaying organic matter (saprobic). It appears in the summer and fall. The cap when young is whitish, smooth, dry, 2″ to 4¾″ in diameter, and convex to broadly convex. In wet weather it appears pinkish. It is covered with blackish-brown or grayish-brown scales and fibers, densely in the center becoming less as it approaches the margin. As it matures the cap becomes nearly flat. The gills are crowded and free, not attached to the stalk. They are light pink at first and remain light pink as they mature. Eventually they turn brown with age. The stalk is white, smooth, solid or hollow, 2⅜″ to 6″ tall, and ⅜″ to ⅝″ in diameter. It is slightly enlarged at the base. Toward the top of the stalk, below the cap and gills, is a large membranous ring. This is the remnant of a protective covering (inner veil) of the developing gills. The flesh is white, turning yellow when bruised. The spore print is brown. It has a disagreeable odor that has been compared to coal tar. It is poisonous, not edible.

	Similar Species



	Habitat and Hosts
	On the ground under hardwood trees in deciduous and mixed forests.


	Ecology
	Season
	July to October


	Taxonomy
	Kingdom	Fungi (fungi)
	Subkingdom	Dikarya
	Division	Basidiomycota (club fungi)
	Subdivision	Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms)
	Class	Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies)
	Subclass	Agaricomycetidae
	Order	Agaricales (common gilled mushrooms and allies)
	Suborder	Suborder Agaricineae
	Family	Agaricaceae (field mushrooms and allies)
	Genus	Agaricus (field and button mushrooms)
	Subgenus	Pseudochitonia
	Section	Xanthodermatei

	This mushroom was formerly classified as Agaricus placomyces. In some treatments, Agaricus praeclaresquamosus, a similar mushroom found west of the Rocky Mountains, is included in this species.

	Synonyms
	Agaricus meleagris Agaricus placomyces Fungus placomyces Psalliota placomyces

	Common Names
	Eastern Flat-topped Agaricus Flat Top Flat-topped Agaricus Inky Agaricus Inky Mushroom

Glossary

Saprobic

A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.


	Visitor Photos

	Share your photo of this fungus.
			This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.


	Stephanie Segner

	They can cause bad gastro intestinal symptoms in some and no symptoms in others. The larger ones were approximately 5 inches tall and the caps were 2.5 - 3 inches in diameter. They had dropped dark brown or purplish spores. Partial veil showing with straight stem and not bulbous at the bottom.







	MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

	Cluster






	Gills

Camera


	Slideshows


	Agaricus moelleri - fungi kingdom Fungi Kingdom

	About Published on Jan 23, 2015 Agaricus moelleri - fungi kingdom

slideshow


	Visitor Videos

	Share your video of this mammal.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.










	Other Videos


	Agaricus moelleri Κώστας Μαυροματάκης

	About Published on Oct 6, 2015 Agaricus moelleri, also known as the inky mushroom, or dark scaled mushroom, is a large mushroom of the genus Agaricus. edibility: poisonous

Camcorder


Visitor Sightings

Report a sighting of this fungus.
		This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location.



Stephanie Segner 6/28/2018	Location: Baker Park in Maple Plain, MN They can cause bad gastro intestinal symptoms in some and no symptoms in others. The larger ones were approximately 5 inches tall and the caps were 2.5 - 3 inches in diameter. They had dropped dark brown or purplish spores. Partial veil showing with straight stem and not bulbous at the bottom.



MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

Savage Fen SNA

Binoculars

Inky Agaricus